Latest On Aroldis Chapman

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman will receive a suspension in the coming days, reports Jon Heyman (on Twitter). Heyman doesn’t include the length of Chapman’s apparently looming discipline, but the left-hander “will get a ban,” per the report.

A suspension for Chapman, who allegedly choked his girlfriend and discharged a handgun eight times in his garage during an offseason incident, has been the expectation for quite some time despite the fact that criminal charges ultimately were not filed, and Chapman’s girlfriend, Cristina Barnea, delivered a significantly different recap of the events in the months that followed the incident itself. Barnea eventually told Broward County prosecutors that she only heard one gunshot and was not sure who fired the weapon. She also told prosecutors that she didn’t recall telling the police that Chapman had hit her, either. Witnesses from the birthday party at which the incident allegedly took place have not corroborated the initial allegations against Chapman.

Commissioner Rob Manfred recently spoke with reporters, however, explaining that disciplinary measures under the newly implemented domestic violence policy could still be taken even in the absence of criminal charges. Manfred implied that the decisions of law enforcement wouldn’t make up his own mind, stating that there are “lots of reasons for non-prosecution” and pointing out the differences between establishing proof in labor arbitration as opposed to establishing proof in criminal proceedings.

Chapman’s camp has said that he will appeal any disciplinary measures set forth by Major League Baseball, so the process could continue for quite some time even after an initial decision is announced by the Commissioner’s Office. It’s worth reminding that Chapman, who has five years, 34 days of Major League service times, is 138 days shy of reaching the requisite six years of big league service to qualify as a free agent. If he is suspended for longer than 45 days of the regular season (not games), he will be on track to fall shy of free agency. Of course, in light of a ban of that magnitude, one can imagine an adamant protest from Chapman’s representatives.

So therefore they shouldn’t suspend players for betting or any other thing not in the clubhouse or on the field? If its not proven that’s another thing but they still play for the team and MLB on and off the field.

Black Sox, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb. Pete Rose at the time of his ban. I suppose in the Pittsburgh Drug Trials the players were under court immunity but still received a suspended one year ban. Baseball has always pretty much done what it likes in regard to punishment…either overlooking or laying the hammer down.

The Commissioner has always “done what he wants” within the context of a collective bargaining agreement that is fairly clear about the scope of his powers. And when the MLBPA feels he has acted outside the defined powers of his job, they have not been shy about arbitrating it under clear terms of law.

The commissioner can act within his general change of protecting “the best interests of baseball” and the more specific authority assigned to him under the domestic violence policy JOINTLY adopted by MLB and the MLBPA.

It’s a privilege to play in MLB. Just like anyone’s job anywhere for any major employer, you are an at will employee. Meaning they can do what they want, when they want, through partnership with the players association of course. I am tired of all these athletes thinking they can do what they want when they want because they have millions. It’s like giving a monkey a loaded gun with some of these athletes.

His girlfriend did not “drop the charges”. Charges were never filed and witnesses that were there said her original story was a load of bull and she has even recanted. I lived in Florida and they have a zero tolerance for domestic violence law and the cops there love to bust celebrities. If he had done anything he would have been thrown in jail faster than a Chapman fastball. His case is similar to Shoeless Jackson. MLB wants to look tough on a new policy so they are bringing the hammer down on all those accused regardless of guilt or proof. Regardless of what happens to Chapman it will look like a slap on the wrist compared to what Reyes gets. His season could be toast.

I was speaking on a more general basis than specifically on Chapman’s situation. However, not always are charges filed. It doesn’t mean the incident never took place. Ray Rice, for example, had his charges dropped.

I’m not sure if Chapman is guilty or not, and honestly it doesn’t matter at this point. But considering he was not charged, suspending him would be like suspending a player for being part of a training facility where steroids were given to a player even if you were not the player in question.

There was physical evidence (including bruising and shell casings) and a witness statement. The latter of those changed in the weeks and months that followed (as is common in cases of physical abuse by a spouse or partner), but that’s a very different issue than “there was no evidence.”

According to the police reports he fired the shots in the garage, one of which went through the window, and punched out the car window. Seems Chapman admitted to both at the time. So right there, the commissioner has the goods.

If only because this is the first test of the new policy, the commissioner will want to be perceived as being “tough yet fair.” Tough meaning the players are put on notice about the behavior that is expected of them off the field, and fair in that the MLBPA backs it up and pressures Chapman into accepting it. Still guessing five games and mandatory counseling.

Sorry but you are wrong about the bruising. The police report specifically says there were NO marks on the person making the 911 call. and that NO witness saw him abuse the woman. I don’t know where you got your information from. Yes he did admit to firing a gun in the garage. But that does NOT mean he committed DV. BTW, he said he locked himself alone in the garage before he fired the gun. So there are NO witnesses to the DV and no one saw him fire a gun. He will be suspended because the commissioner has wide latitude on what he can do but not because there is overwhelming evidence against him to support a lengthy suspension.

He admitted to firing the gun and punching out the car window. That is in the police report. Just based on the facts on the record it is clear that the player has rage issues that were on full display in a domestic situation. Those who continue to argue that he can’t be found in violation of the policy unless he chokes or punches a woman, with witnesses no less, are totally missing the point. The commissioner already has everything he needs to suspend Chapman for a few games at least, and to order counseling.

I agree with you Bluesky. He definitely needs counseling and has a rage problem. I am trying to stop people from assuming things that are not there. Chapman is not Reyes. A few years ago my sister called the cops on her ex and made up a story just to get him out of the house. I guess if he played in MLB people would demand a pound of flesh from him too.

Obviously, I don’t support what Chapman did. But I feel like the MLB has no right to punish him and it’s an abuse of their power. If charges were pressed, that’s different. But whatever Chapman does in his own home, on his own time shouldn’t be met with an on-field punishment. If the law didn’t punish him then why should the MLB? They shouldn’t have the jurisdiction. I mean, That’s like 2 kids fighting at the park over the summer and then getting suspended on the first day of school.

Because his alleged behavior does not represent the values a major league baseball player should maintain. MLB is a private company, they have every right to discipline their employees for violating morality clauses with “conduct detrimental” to the league.

Also I feel as if this would be sort of an example set by MLB. The cases such as Puig and Reyes are much different than this one, especially now since there is “no evidence”. This example makes it easy for MLB to say this is the standard so follow it or be punished. So basically as long as you don’t have police coming to your house over a dispute or a court date for a dispute then it’s all good.

Yup, it’s what happens when you can toss a baseball 103mph…or be the driving force behind a film making a 1,000% profit. Rare talents…to an extent they DO write their own check. You really gotta be repeatedly dumb to wreck that train

According to the police report he admitted firing eight shots including one through a window. Charges filed or not MLB has every right to discipline him. If he has a problem with that then his problem is with his union which signed the CBA.

Ah, no. Local laws will vary, as will their enforcement, but legality is not the issue here at all in any event. Those who insist on referring to the law are completely missing the point of the policy.

Horowitz is the arbitrator, He always rules for MLB.(Bonds, Arod, etc). MLBPA had the right to dismiss him after the Arod case but chose not too. The last arbitrator that ruled against MLB in a big case was dismissed by MLB (Brauns suspension) . So arbitrators know they can keep their job ruling against the player in these big cases

I hope the ban is long enough to gain an extra year of Chapman. With Betances and Miller, we don’t necessarily “need” Chapman, especially in the early stages of the season. Having that three headed monster at the back end of the bullpen late in the season will be a huge advantage.

I still see no basis for a suspension except to save the Yankees money. He said he was simply defending himself. His GF was enraged about something on his cell phone and attacked him. There were no visible marks on her. Its not unheard of for women to be aggressors in such cases, and police know that very well. Nothing like a woman scorned, especially if drugs or alcohol are involved.

This is why I can’t understand the MLBPA agreeing to this. The commissioner has a conflict of interest here, since he is voted in and paid by the owners to represent MLB (a legal collective of 30 owners) , and not the players. Of course, the commissioner has always had the ability to suspend, but needed an agreement as a cover for not exercising it in the past.

Now Reyes, he should be suspended for 2 years. All kinds of evidence there, which is why he was charged. But he gets suspended with pay until he gets a fair trial

I’m not a Yankees fan by a longshot, but it seems to me that the Yankees’ signing of Chapman IS a focus on winning championships. Chapman will likely be a huge contributor to that team this year. And the Yankees are now about making media splashes? They’ve ALWAYS been about making media splashes!

I hope all the Yankee haters realize the Yankees knew all along about the suspension. The longer benifets the Yankees because it adds a year of free agency. So they can survive with the solid bullpen they had for 2-3 months and than a strong chapman into the playoffs

Chapman should not be suspended. When police arrest they use the standard of “probable cause” which essentially means more likely than not. It is a very low standard. Considering Florida’s zero tolerance policy, that means that trained officers on the scene found it less likely than not to have occurred. This is supported by the fact that the alleged victims account was unbelievable the night of the incident, has since been retracted since, and no other guest there that night corroborated her story. Any punishment levied is unsupported by any standard or proof other than baseball witch hunt. I understand that baseball does not have to abide by criminal standards of proof. But they should require more than “unlikely to have occurred.”